Powered running boards for locking doors of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A powered running board for attaching to a vehicle comprising a stepping platform and a pivoting assembly. The pivoting assembly comprises a rotating bar connected to a pivoting support arm, which is attached to the stepping platform. The powered running board can pivot between a down position (e.g., horizontal orientation) and an up position (e.g., vertical orientation), wherein the down position is for providing a step for entry into and out of the vehicle, and the up position is for obstructing the opening of the side doors so as to secure the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a motorized running boards for avehicle. More particularly, the present invention is directed to amotorized running boards that can pivot between a down position and anup position, wherein when the running boards are in the up position,they obstruct the opening of the side doors of the vehicle for securitypurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Running boards are commonly found on trucks and sport utility vehicles(SUVs). Running boards provide a secure and stable step along the leftand right sides of the vehicle for easy entry and exit into the vehicle.Most conventional vehicle running boards have fixed positions relativeto the frames of the vehicles to which they are attached. Some runningboards are motorized and can be moved from their standard position onthe side of the vehicle to a position underneath the vehicle chassiswhen they are not in use.

The present invention features a powered running board for preventingthe opening of a side door of a vehicle. The powered running board isfor attaching to the chassis of a vehicle. The powered running board canpivot between a down position (e.g., horizontal orientation, thestandard position of running boards) and an up position (e.g., verticalorientation). In the down position, the powered running board provides astep for entry into and out of the vehicle, similar to standard runningboards. When the powered running board is in the up position, itobstructs the opening of the side doors thereby locking the doors so asto secure the vehicle. In some embodiments, a user can pivot the poweredrunning board to the up position so as to obstruct the side doors of thevehicle when parked. The powered running board secures the vehicle andany valuables in the vehicle by preventing the side doors from beingopened.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are includedwithin the scope of the present invention provided that the featuresincluded in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as willbe apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge ofone of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects ofthe present invention are apparent in the following detailed descriptionand claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the powered running board of the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the powered running board of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the powered running board of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a side and cross sectional view of the powered running boardof the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

“Referring now to FIG. 1-4, the present invention features a poweredrunning board 100 for attaching to the chassis 800 of a vehicle 105. Thepowered running board 100 can pivot between a down position on Plane A600 (e.g., horizontal orientation), and an up position on Plane B 610(e.g., vertical orientation), wherein the down position is for providinga step for entry into and out of the vehicle 105, and the up position isfor obstructing the opening of the vehicle doors 900 so as to secure thevehicle 105. A user can pivot the powered running board 100 to the upposition so as to obstruct the doors 900 of the vehicle 105 when parked.The powered running board 100 secures the vehicle 105 and any valuablesin the vehicle 105 by preventing the side doors 900 from being opened.”

The powered running board 100 comprises a stepping platform 150resembling a standard running board found on vehicles. The steppingplatform 150 has a top surface 155, a bottom surface 160, a first end151, and a second end 152. The powered running board 100 furthercomprises a pivoting assembly for attaching to the chassis 800 of thevehicle 105.

The pivoting assembly comprises a rotating bar 300 having a first end301, a second end 302, and a middle. The rotating bar 300 is attached tothe chassis 800 of a vehicle via one or more rotating bar brackets 320.The rotating bar brackets 320 affix the rotating bar 300 to the chassis800 while allowing the rotating bar 300 to rotate about the axis of thelength of the bar (e.g., the axis derived from the first end 301 to thesecond end 302).

In some embodiments, a first pivot plate 310 is attached to the rotatingbar 300 near the first end 301; a second pivot plate 310 is attached tothe rotating bar 300 near the second end 302, and a third pivot plate310 is attached to the rotating bar 300 in the middle. The third pivotplate 310 in the middle of the rotating bar 300 has teeth 400 disposedalong its outer perimeter. The teeth 400 are for engaging a gear 410 ofan electric motor 350.

An electric motor 350 is attached to the chassis 800 of the vehicle 105.The electric motor 350 has a first end and a second end. Disposed at thefirst end is a gear 410, which is for engaging the teeth 400 of thethird pivot plate 310 attached to the middle of the rotating bar 300.When the electric motor 350 is activated, it rotates the gear 410, whichin turn rotates the third pivot plate 310 in the middle of the rotatingbar 300. This causes the rotating bar 300 to rotate about the axis ofits length.

A pivoting support arm connects the pivot plates 310 and the steppingplatform 150. The pivoting support arm comprises a linkage component 200having a first end 201 and a second end 202, and a pivot component 210having a first end 211, a second end 212, and a middle. The first end201 of the linkage component 200 is pivotally attached to the pivotplate 310 via a pivot bolt 220. The second end 202 of the linkagecomponent 200 is pivotally attached to the first end 211 of the pivotcomponent 210. The second end 212 of the pivot component 210 is attachedto the bottom surface 160 of the stepping platform 150. The middle ofthe pivot component 210 is pivotally attached to a vehicle attachmentbracket 850 via a pivot bolt 220, wherein the vehicle attachment bracket850 is for attaching the pivoting support arm to the bottom 855 of thevehicle body and/or the chassis 800. In some embodiments, a pivotingsupport arm is disposed near the first end 301 of the rotating bar 300,the second end 302 of the rotating bar 300, and/or in the middle of therotating bar 300.

When the rotating bar 300 turns in a first direction (e.g., clockwise)about the axis of its length, the linkage component 200 is forceddownward. As the linkage component 200 moves downward, the first end 211of the pivot component 210 moves downward while the second end 212 ofthe pivot component 210, which is, attached to the stepping platform150, is forced upward. This causes the stepping platform 150 to move tothe up position (e.g., vertical orientation).

When the rotating bar 300 turns in a second direction (e.g.,counterclockwise) about the axis of its length, the linkage component200 is forced upward, which moves the first end 211 of the pivotcomponent 210 upward and the second end 212 of the pivot component 210downward. This causes the stepping platform 150 to move to the downposition (e.g., horizontal orientation).

In some embodiments, the electric motor 350 is powered via the 12-voltdirect current (DC) electrical system of the vehicle 105.

In some embodiments, a receiver component 500 isoperatively/electrically connected to the electric motor 350. Thereceiver component 500 is for receiving a signal from a transmitterdisposed in a remote control 950. When the receiver component 500receives a signal from the transmitter, the electric motor 350 isactivated and can cause the stepping platform 150 to be moved to the upposition or the down position.

In some embodiments, a user can moves the powered running board 100 tothe down position while driving. In some embodiments, the user can movethe powered running board 100 to the up position while the vehicle 105is parked. In some embodiments, the user can use the remote control 950to activate the powered running board 100.

The powered running board 100 of the present invention may beconstructed from a variety of materials. For example, in someembodiments, the powered running board 100 is constructed from amaterial comprising a metal (e.g., aluminum, steel), plastic, the likeor a combination thereof.

The powered running board 100 of the present invention may be used onmany different types of vehicles. For example, in some embodiments, thepowered running board 100 is used on a truck, a sport utility vehicle(SUV), a van, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the powered runningboard 100 is incorporated into pre-market vehicles. In some embodiments,the powered running board 100 is attached to after-market vehicles.

The following the disclosures of the following U.S. patents areincorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No.6,955,370 B2; U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,771 B2; U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,295 B2;U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,472; U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,120 B2; U.S. Pat. No.7,055,839 B2; U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,927.

Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those describedherein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoingdescription. Such modifications are also intended to fall within thescope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the presentapplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed thescope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention isonly to be limited by the following claims.

1. A powered running board for preventing a door of a vehicle from beingopened, said powered running board comprising: (a) a stepping platformhaving a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end;(b) a rotating bar having a first end, a second end, and a middle; (c) arotating bar bracket for attaching the rotating bar to the vehicleattached to a chassis of the vehicle, wherein the rotating bar bracketallows the rotating bar to rotate about an axis of its length; (d) afirst pivot plate attached to the rotating bar near the first end, and asecond pivot plate attached to the rotating bar near the second end; (e)a third pivot plate attached to the middle of the rotating bar; whereinthe third pivot plate has an outer perimeter; wherein teeth are disposedalong the outer perimeter of the third pivot plate; (f) a gear forengaging the teeth on the third pivot plate; (g) an electric motoroperatively connected to the gear; wherein when the electric motorrotates the gear such that the third pivot plate rotates, causing therotating bar to rotate; and (h) a pivoting support arm having a linkagecomponent and a pivot component for pivotally connecting the first pivotplate to the stepping platform; wherein when the rotating bar is rotatedin a first direction, the pivoting support arm causes the steppingplatform to move to an up position on a plane, Plane B; wherein when therotating bar is rotated in a second direction, the pivoting support armcauses the stepping platform to move to a down position on a plane,Plane A; wherein in the down position on Plane A, the top surface of thestepping platform has a generally horizontal orientation, wherein PlaneA is oriented at an angle with respect to Plane B; wherein the pivotcomponent comprises a length such that in the up position on Plane B,the stepping platform is disposed so as to obstruct a door of thevehicle, wherein the top surface of the stepping platform faces the sidedoor of the vehicle, whereby in the up position on Plane B, the steppingplatform secures the vehicle and any valuables in the vehicle bypreventing the side door from being opened.
 2. The powered running boardof claim 1, wherein the pivoting support arm comprises a linkagecomponent having a first end and a second end and a pivot componenthaving a first end, a second end, and a middle.
 3. The powered runningboard of claim 1, wherein the powered running board further comprises atransmitter disposed in a remote control.
 4. The powered running boardof claim 3, wherein the powered running board further comprises areceiver component operatively connected to the electric motor, whereinthe receiver component is for receiving a signal from the transmitterdisposed in the remote control; wherein the signal allows the steppingplatform to move to the up position or the down position.
 5. The poweredrunning board of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is powered via a12-volt direct current electrical system of the vehicle.